Flume.



J. R. RANKIN.

PLUME.

APPLICATION rILBD APR.15,1912

,5,795. Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 W/TNESSES.'

NTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. RANKIN, 0F PUEBLO, COLORADO.

FLUME.

` Appiication med April 15,

To all whom 1115 may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. RANKIN, a citizen of the United States, -residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Coloradmhave invented a certain new and,I useful Fiume, of which t'ne following is a full, clear, and exact description.

rlihis rinvention is an improvement in flumes which are employed to convey water for power, irrigation or other purposes and relates in particular to the means of torming the joints between the sections of which such ytl-ilmes are built. Y

The principal objects of my invention are: to provide a flume joint Which has a smooth interior and consequently a low coeliicient of friction; to provide a joint which can be made water-tight Without thel use of rivets or solder; to so design the joint that it may he used with or without cross-beams as desired; to provide a joint obviating Severe or abrupt bends of the galvanized metal of which such sections are usually composed,

thus avoiding cracking of the coating of the lmet-al; to `providel a joint having interior means for forcing the parts into position, thus aiding materially in assembling the parts and absolutely preventing their beingA f displaced by strains placed thereon by the' weight of the water contained or stresses set up by expansion or contraction induced by changes of temperature; and to provide va fiume .which can be assembled independently of the substructure, thus permitting of long lengths of the flume being assembled either at the factory or on the ground bef, low the place of use, lwhich is of. importance where the fiume is to be used on a high trestlegas assembling is difficult in such position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will later appear in the s ecification and be pointed out in the appen ed claims.

To these' ends myfI invention consists in the means and combinations of parts shown in the accompanyingtwo sheets of drawings in which: I

Figure 1 is ya vertical section through a Stringer and one form of attaching means embodying my invention, the section being taken on the line X-Y of Fig. 2 butlshowing the L-bolt in elevation; Fig. 2 is a. horizontal sect-ion of the attaching means shown in `Fig. 1, the section being taken just bef Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1 913. 191,2. Serial No. 690,821.

Fig. 5 is a perspective, similar toA Fig. 4,

but illustrating how my invention would be employed with a cross-beam; Fig. G is a vertical scction through a modified form of joint; Fig. 'l 'is a' perspective of the joint shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 shows a still further` modification of my invention in which the plates 16 and 18 of the modification of ["ig; 1 are joined in a single element; and Fig. 9 is a vertical section showing the modiication of Fig. 8A with the parts in posi-tion before the nuts 'are tightened to force the parts of the joint home. v

In the drawings, 10, 10, indicate the stringers on which the iume is supported, and 1l, 11, the separate, semi-cylindrical sections of metal, preferably galvanized iron, of which the flume is composed. in my form of joint the Sections 11, 11, do not abutor overlap. but are separated by an outside shape 12 which is provided with sockets as shown to receive similarly curved, semi-cylindrical corrugations or beads 13 on the ends of the sections 11, and which is provided with a shoulder 14 to till the Space between the adjacent sheets. Fillets 15, in this instance shown as haltrounds, enter the concave side of the corrugations 13 and hold the sheets firmly seated against the out-side shape 12. To this point all the modifications shown are similar, tl'iediterences between them residing simply in the means for holding the partsy together. In tlie form shown in Figs. 1 Yo 4. inclusive a suspension plate 16 is bolte' Ato the stringers 10. .An L-bolt, threaded at eaeh end, passes vertically through the suspension plate, and its hori? Vthe ends of the outside shape, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

ln assembling the beads 13 are placed in tliesockel'sin the members 1Q .iii/1 the halfrounds are placed in the beads. Then the horizontal'arxn of the L-bolt 17 passed through a bolt hole in the shoulder 1 4. the plate 18 is placed in position and the nut 19 is turned up to -force the half-rounds easily but not tightly into the beads 13. The the nut on the top of the L-bo-lt 17 is tightened to draw the parts upward and the halfround, contacting first with the plate 16, is forced securely home in its seat. in the beads, thus holding the'beads firmly against the outside shape. Then the nut 19 is setto securely hold the'pa-rts in position. 'y

Fig. 5 shows how the plates 1G may be continued across the thune to form a crossbeam 2O Should a lstructure embodying a cross-beam be'preferred.- It will be-obvious that this beam may be either timber or metal without in any way departing from my invention.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modiication of my invention especially adapted to small, light lumes` In this form the half-round fillets 15 are extended Aand bent at 21 as shown, toI form horizontal shoulders extending overfthe stringers 1 0A and supporting the flume. Free plates 22?, resting on the upper surface of the half-rdiinds, form a bearing for the L-bolt 17. In this con*- struction the wedging action between the parts 12 and l15' is induced by vraising the outside shape 12 with' relation to the halfrounds 15 bv tightening t-he upper nut on the L-bolt 17. Otherwise the steps of as sembling are the Same. Y

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown the preferred form of my device-preferred because it canbe assembled independently of the supporting structure and because itinvolves the smallest number of parts. a right angled plate 24 takes the place of the plates 16 and 18 of the form otlthe invention shpw'n in Figs. 1 to 4. Slots-|25 and 26 permit of the passage of the Lfbolt 17 iso and provide for its movements when tighten` ing the joint. When the parts are assembled as shown 'rn Fig. 9 (which it will be obvious may or may not be in relation to -the Stringer 10-) the nut 27 is tightened to force the fillets into position but not to hold the parts absolutely against movement.. Then the-nut 28 istightened pulling `the remainder of the parts upward, the Lbolt sliding 'in the slot The fillets 15 extend slightly higher than'the outside sha e and, contacting first with theunder si e of the plate 24, are forced securely home.. Then the nut 27 is given a final tightening ,to secure. all tinte-parts inV position. Y f

-The-feat-ure'of my device which permits the fiume sections being out of Contact one with the other has, among others, the `decided advantage of permitting the introduction between the sections of the L-bolt-s Inv this form whichl coperatewitli an interior holding means. This construction enables the device to be easily assembled as described and the interior holding means, when being tight cned, positively forces the members home to their seats lwithout the use of clamps or the necessityl of pounding or other operations to seat. the parts.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: .Q i

1. In a device ofthe classidescribcd, the combination with two adjoining sections having beads at their ends, of -a joining means having two spaced sockets for receiving said beads. i

2. In a -device of the class described, the combination with two adjoining sections having beads at their ends, of an exterior joining means having two spaced sockets for receiving said beads.

3. Ina device of the class described, the combination with two adjoining sections having beads at their ends, of a joining means having two spaced sockets for receiving said beads, and means forl forcing the beads into the sockets,

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with two adjoining sections having beads at their ends, of a joining means having two spaced sockets for receiving said beads, and independent means for.

beads into their respective combination with" two adjoining sections i having beads at their ends, of a joining means having two spaced sockets Afor receiving said b eads',-the joining means. being so shaped as to -give a 'smooth vsurface to the interior of the assembled device.

6. In a device of thenc'iss described, the combination with two adjoining sections having beads att-heir ends, of a joining means having two spaced sockets for receiving said beads, the parts being so proportioned that the ends of the sections when assembled are not in Contact and the joining means being so shaped asl to close the opening between theendsof the sections.

7. In a device of the class described, the combinationy with two .,jadjoining sections having beads at their ends, of an outside shape having two spaced sockets for' receiving said beads and a shoulder intermediate said sockets.-K

8. In a device of the class described', the

combination with two adjoining sections heavinghrtttio it thvir ends, of un outside fhti'w h-tfing two sotflttft@ for rtetfoivinjr Snifl lit zttttl ii shoult'ltir iittttrniotlitulo stiitl stitiittfts, :intl illttsy for holt'lingg; said heads in siiitl .-t\t*.ttts.

it) ln :t tlovitrc of ht ol; tlestrihtbd, tho tfonthinotion with two adjoining setitlons hitting houd fit their cntls, of :in outsitlo Shape havingr two tit'ltt'tf# for rotteii'ing sttitl liigt'its :intl ti :shoulder intvinictlinio Stiitl pocket-, lillttt; for holding;I ttitl heads in Stiitl tetitblttftfi. :intl inttimr tor forcing -ttitl lillois itin/l Stihl htifti itthtinht thtf nutrir slitijit.

ll. In :i tltwitt of'iho vlas@ tiltstfiihoth the tonihintttioii with tvo adjoining Notions hitting liteit-:ls :it their miti-` of :in outitltx shttpt hitting two .Qotlttn t'or rt-t1tiivi|ijg ittitl htttlS :intl ii Shonltlti' inttintt-etlhittf Siiitl sothtt, tilitttt tot holding sttitl litttils in sfiitl lilltftt'` tiiifttgging ttiitl sotjlttts. tho ttitls of stiitl tillt'tf jii'tijvtling :iliotte thtl tntl of sttitl outytitltr ,Jntjitntt holt pttssing through sttitl shoultltr tin=l hitting :in upwtirtlly tixttntling rti'iti, nimm wot'iiiotttting ttith oiiitl holt 'l'ot' lortinQj lltt lilltfl@ into thtl littitl :intl tho l iitls :igtiiiwt t toinhiititiott with t/wti adjoining" srt-titiw` ot' inni-r :intl tittittl t'hintjisn'." nttinlitr-.y tltt iti-- not' t'hinipiiig nttitthvis living :ttlnjiltitl to l'tirtt' tlttsection, into tgontiit't with tht oultr tlziinping`r nienilitrs, ztntl nuttiny titztiiij.: on tht' intti'ior ot tho tlttito :intl holow tht` tlntls of tlitl innti' thinijiing' nitnnhoixsy for 'liot'tfing tltt inntfr chinijiingj int-it'ihtitz@` honit.

lll. li :i tltt'itft of thtl Chi# tltwt'iilititl, thtl totiihintitioti with two :itljt'iiningi' .-tittioit of itttitr :intl outer dumping nitniliti'sttlit; oitttt t'hitnjiing nttnthttr rt'trtii'ittg,r thtl tiitl, ol' tht; stt'tioii@ :intl holding tlitni out oll voulait't i'ltt-y ono with tho othtr` tht iiiitti tltiinj in;,f intl/tinsy lining titliiiitetl tti torti` thv stttioii-l into tonliitft with tlit outti` "ltiinjiinit' iiitftins, :intl nitiins titlinil on tht.) inttiior olt tho tlovitro nntl below thtA tntl ol' tho iiittti` tltiinli inf,r ntttttts l'oifort-ingr tho inntr limiting intititt`l honit.

li'. lit :t tltftiwtr of tho t'lzt tliietrrilitith tho votiiliinzttion with two :itljoininig st-tftioiit, of tlxtorior joining menno revolving' tlittintl` ot' sititl Section5 itntl holding,r thtinv out oliE nontiitft ono with iinothtir, :intl nitnttsy pneuingr through tlit. joining nittinsy :intl ttt'tinj`r on tho interior ot' tht, tloz'it'tx for forcing; thel nvtftiotis into Contact with thtx joiningr nitftns.

18. 'ln :i tlorit-e tit' tht this` tloQot-ihctl, the twit'tiliiiizttititi with two titljoiniinf` sections, of tixttriotl joining incinta rtlcoivingij the ends ol' sttitl stzttioiis :intl holding thoiti out of t-onttitt ono with another, and nieztiis pttsx ing` through thtl joiningV matins itntl lititwtieit tlttl tintlii ot' tht section for fortil j tht: sot?- tions intji tfttnttitt with thvr joining;y nit-zins.

ltt. ln it tltvito of thtj @hiss dt'stzril'iotl, the tft'iiiihinitx ion with two :itljt'iinintrij Stit'lions. 0lt

ltixtteiiot' joining` ntoitiis for revolving tltt.

iit out itltl SlttijitiA :i jihittx through i 4titl outbiiltlifijio, titi L-li-fill wliost horitzghttiiing zit the niitf will ioi'ttt the filitits titl joining' wttititn:

t-ntls: ol' `titl fitttions :intl lioltlitij`r thtnt ont til' tfonttttft, tilltits engaging! said sections, :in Lfliolt wlttist` horizontttl ntcinhtlr ptisSts through tlitx joining intzins tintl hot'wten they tittlt: of tht` strtftions 21nd wlioe foi tit'itl monihvi' pttsstis through ti, rtttiinitn;t nieaits, :intl nut` on thtr tttitls ol the L-holt, whvrthy h v tiglittningii the nuts theI tilltts nitty he fortftetl horizontally :intl vertically ttgttinst the stitctions.

Qt). lit :t tlovitty ol tht Class tltst'rihotl, tht*y toiiihitttttion with two adjoining auctions, of exterior joining ntetins` for receiving! thev tntls of sind Sections :intl holding thttni ttptiit, fillets engaging Sititl stectiotisj.y ti Slotted tingle plitte extiintlingz4 over :intl in front of thel entlt; of tho tilltts :intl the joiningr i, nwttno. tin L-holt whose htirizontil nionthtr passt-n through tht.` joining nttfttt-.sv between tho ont'l of the settion :intl through zi Slot in the vertical int-mlm* of the :ingle platte anti whose horizontal member passes through a slot in the horizontal member of the angle plate, and nuts on the ends of the L-bolt, whereby by tightening the nuts the fillets may be forced horizontally and vertieallylagainst the sections. Y

21; In a device of the class described,'the combination with two adjoining sections .having beads at their ends, of an outside sha e having a pair of sockets for receiving sai beads and a shoulder intermedlate said sockets," fillets engaging -said beads, an L- bolt Whose horizontal me'mber passes through said shoulder and whose vertical `member is in position to enga e the outside' shape, aiplate On said bolt a apted t0 engage sait fillets, and a nut 0n saidbolt, whereby the tightening of the nut willforce the fillets into the beads, the beads into the sockets and the outside shape against the .VertiQal member of the L-bolt. f

22. "In a device of the class described, tb@

`cornbination with two adjoining sections sha e means for su n )ortinrY said bolt a f plate on saidbolt; adapted to engage said, llets, and a nut on said bolt, whereby the tighteningr of the nut will force the lille-ts into the beads, the beads into the sockets and the outside shape against the vertical member of the L- bQlt.

ln testiniony whereof, I hereunto alix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. RANlIlN.

litnesse/s:

i NELLIE M. Su'rrw,

YV. W. BoUoHfioN. 

